U.S. patent application number 13/808271 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-09 for device for adjusting and locking the position of a guide rail for a movable windowpane in a vehicle door.
This patent application is currently assigned to BAYRISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG. The applicant listed for this patent is Klaus Hampel, Jurgen Knorr, Detlev Mathes, Michael Pangerl. Invention is credited to Klaus Hampel, Jurgen Knorr, Detlev Mathes, Michael Pangerl.
Application Number | 20130111820 13/808271 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44584837 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130111820 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hampel; Klaus ; et
al. |
May 9, 2013 |
DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING AND LOCKING THE POSITION OF A GUIDE RAIL FOR A
MOVABLE WINDOWPANE IN A VEHICLE DOOR
Abstract
The invention relates to the adjusting and locking of the
position of a guide rail for a movable window pane in a vehicle
door. A device, a vehicle door equipped therewith and a tool
provided for the adjusting and locking are disclosed. In the
vehicle door, a first mounting plate mounted on the rail side and a
second mounting plate mounted on the door side are provided, which
are connected to one another by screw-fastenable mounting means.
One of the mounting plates comprises an engaging element for an
eccentric lever, which on rotation brings about a mutual
translational displacement of the mounting plates in an adjusting
(Y) direction.
Inventors: |
Hampel; Klaus; (Coburg,
DE) ; Knorr; Jurgen; (Weidhausen, DE) ;
Mathes; Detlev; (Itzgrund, DE) ; Pangerl;
Michael; (Taufkirchen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hampel; Klaus
Knorr; Jurgen
Mathes; Detlev
Pangerl; Michael |
Coburg
Weidhausen
Itzgrund
Taufkirchen |
|
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BAYRISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
Munchen
DE
BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO. KG
Coburg
DE
|
Family ID: |
44584837 |
Appl. No.: |
13/808271 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
June 28, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2011/060778 |
371 Date: |
January 23, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
49/452 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05Y 2201/638 20130101;
E05Y 2600/50 20130101; E05Y 2201/684 20130101; E05Y 2600/20
20130101; E05Y 2900/55 20130101; E05F 11/382 20130101; E05Y
2800/692 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
49/452 |
International
Class: |
E05F 11/38 20060101
E05F011/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 5, 2010 |
DE |
20 2010 009 865.3 |
Claims
1. Device for adjusting and locking the position of a guide rail
for an adjustable window pane in a vehicle door, which has a first
mounting plate mounted on the rail side and a second mounting plate
mounted on the door side, which are connected to one another by
means of screw-fastenable mounting means, wherein one of the
mounting plates comprises an engaging element for an eccentric
lever, which on rotation brings about a mutual translational
displacement of the mounting plates in an adjusting (Y) direction,
wherein the mounting plate comprising the engaging element has a
first slot extending in the adjusting (Y) direction, in which one
of the screw-fastenable mounting means is displaceably received,
and that at least one of the mounting means is configured as a
rotary bearing for the eccentric lever, so that the eccentric lever
can be configured as part of a separate tool.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the door-side second
mounting plate comprises the engaging element for the eccentric
lever.
3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the engaging element is
configured as a second slot in the first mounting plate or the
second mounting plate, wherein the slot extends in a direction (Z)
which is oriented essentially perpendicular to the adjusting
direction (Y).
4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the screw-fastenable
mounting means comprise at least one screw and one nut, wherein at
least one of the mounting means is configured as a rotary bearing
for the eccentric lever, in particular as a round screw or a round
nut.
5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the eccentric lever is
arranged as part of the tool at the end of a tubular shaft, the
interior diameter of which corresponds at least to the exterior
diameter of the screw head or of the nut.
6. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool has a tubular
shaft, at the free end of which the eccentric lever is arranged and
at the other end of which an adjusting handle is arranged.
7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises a
tubular shaft and, rotatably arranged therein, a rod at the free
end of which a coupling element, in particular a spanner element,
is arranged and at the other end of which a locking handle is
arranged.
8. Vehicle door comprising a device for adjusting and locking the
position of a guide rail for an adjustable window pane in the
vehicle door, said device having a first mounting plate mounted on
the rail side and a second mounting plate mounted on the door side,
which are connected to one another by screw-fastenable mounting
means, wherein one of the mounting plates comprises an engaging
element for an eccentric lever, which on rotation brings about a
mutual translational displacement of the mounting plates in an
adjusting (Y) direction, wherein the mounting plate having the
engaging element has a first slot extending in the adjusting
direction (Y), in which one of the screw-fastenable mounting means
is displaceably received, and wherein at least one of the mounting
means is configured as a rotary bearing for the eccentric lever, so
that the eccentric lever can be configured as part of a separate
tool.
9. Tool for use in a device according to claim 1, wherein the tool
is configured tubular and comprises a tubular shaft, at the free
end of which an eccentric lever is arranged which engages in an
engaging element, which has a mounting plate arranged in the
device, and wherein the free end of the tubular shaft is configured
to grasp in form-fitting manner a screw-fastenable mounting means
provided in the device and to use said mounting means as a rotary
bearing for the eccentric lever.
10. Tool according to claim 9, wherein the screw-fastenable
mounting means is a screw head or a nut, wherein the free end of
the tubular shaft has an interior diameter which corresponds at
least to the exterior diameter of the screw head or the nut.
11. Tool according to claim 9, wherein an adjusting handle is
arranged at the other end of the tubular shaft.
12. Tool according to claim 9, wherein arranged in the tubular
shaft is a rotatably arranged rod, at the free end of which a
coupling or locking element, in particular a spanner element, is
arranged and, at the other end thereof, a locking handle is
arranged.
13. Device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging element is
configured as a second slot in the first mounting plat or the
second mounting plate, wherein the slot extends in a direction (Z)
which is oriented essentially perpendicular to the adjusting
direction (Y).
14. Tool according to claim 10, wherein an adjusting handle is
arranged at the other end of the tubular shaft.
15. Tool according to claim 10, wherein arranged in the tubular
shaft is a rotatably arranged rod, at the free end of which a
coupling or locking element, in particular a spanner element, is
arranged and, at the other end thereof, a locking handle is
arranged.
16. Tool according to claim 11, wherein arranged in the tubular
shaft is a rotatably arranged rod, at the free end of which a
coupling or locking element, in particular a spanner element, is
arranged and, at the other end thereof, a locking handle is
arranged.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for adjusting and locking
the position of a guide rail for a movable window pane in a vehicle
door according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also
relates to a vehicle door equipped with the device and a tool
proposed for the adjusting and locking.
[0002] Vehicle doors with movable window panes or adjustable
cable-driven window lifters have long been known. In particular, in
the case of motor vehicles with frameless movable window panes, it
is required for the window panes to be pressed with a pre-definable
pressing force against the seal on the bodywork side. Too low a
pressing force would lead, at high speeds, to lifting off of the
window pane and thus to undesirable wind noise. In order to adjust
the pressing force, the position of the guide rails mounted in the
motor vehicle door is altered, particularly in the Y-position
(tilt) thereof.
[0003] DE 10 2004 027 253 A1 discloses a device of this type for
adjusting and locking a movable window pane. Each guide rail is
provided with a mounting plate mounted on the rail side (section 9
in FIG. 1 therein). This rail-side mounting plate is fastened to a
mounting plate (position angle 11) mounted on the door side. A
special screw connection which is equipped with an eccentric lever
(element 2 in FIG. 4) is proposed as the mounting means. The
eccentric lever is in engagement with an engaging element which is
configured as a slot (reference sign 5 in FIGS. 2 and 3), so that
given a rotary movement of the eccentric lever, the rail-side
mounting plate is moved translationally and is displaced relative
to the mounting plate mounted on the door side. For this purpose,
the slot serving as an engaging element (reference sign 5 in FIG.
3) must extend vertically (Z-direction), i.e. perpendicularly to
the adjusting direction (Y-direction). The adjustment is undertaken
with the screw connection slightly loosened, so that the Y position
of the mounting plate (section 9 in FIG. 3) on the rail side is
adjusted by rotating the eccentric lever. In order to rotate the
eccentric lever, said lever has a tool connection (internal Torx
profile 15 in FIG. 4) for a socket spanner or the like. If, by
rotating the eccentric lever, the desired Y-position of the guide
rail has been adjusted, said position can be locked or fixed by
means of a further socket spanner which engages with a fastening
nut. This known solution has the disadvantage that following
setting or adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail, the
eccentric lever must remain at the deployment site thereof because
said eccentric lever is an integral component of the screw
connection there. A solution wherein the weight or the material of
the eccentric lever and the space required could be significantly
reduced or even saved altogether would be desirable.
[0004] Thus a device for adjusting and locking the position of the
guide rail is known which has a first mounting plate mounted on the
rail side and a second mounting plate mounted on the door side
which are connected to one another by means of screw-fastenable
mounting means, wherein one of the mounting plates comprises an
engaging element which comprises, for example, a vertical slot for
an eccentric lever.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to improve a device
of the aforementioned type for adjusting and locking such that a
solution is proposed which saves space and material to the greatest
possible extent.
[0006] This aim is achieved with a device having the features of
claim 1.
[0007] Furthermore, in the alternative independent claims, a
vehicle door equipped with such a device and a tool for use with
such a device are proposed.
[0008] It is therefore proposed that the mounting plate comprising
the engaging element has a slot extending in the adjusting
direction, in which one of the screw-fastenable mounting means is
displaceably received, and that at least one of the mounting means
is configured as a pivot point for the eccentric lever, so that the
eccentric lever can be configured as part of a separate or external
tool. It is therefore made possible through the design proposed
here to carry out the position adjustment and the locking of the
guide rail by means of a separate tool. This is essentially
achieved in that at least one of the mounting means is configured
as a rotary bearing or pivot point for the eccentric lever and that
the mounting plate which comprises the engaging element for the
eccentric lever itself has a slot which extends in the adjusting
direction (preferably the Y-direction or transverse direction) and
serves as a guide for the mutual displacement of the mounting
plates. The adjusting and locking device is configured by means of
said features such that the eccentric lever does not have to be an
integral component, but can be part of a separate or external tool.
In this way, weight, material and space are all saved. In addition,
for locking, simple economical mounting means in the form of screws
and nuts can be used. The invention is particularly suitable for
adjusting the Y-position of guide rails for frameless window
panes.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the slot (guide in the
Y-direction) and the engaging element for the eccentric lever are
provided at the mounting plate on the door side. The engaging
element is preferably also configured as a slot, which then extends
in a direction essentially perpendicularly to the adjusting
direction (vertically oriented slot). As the engaging element, for
example, a spigot or the like which engages in a fork which is part
of the eccentric lever can be provided.
[0010] As mounting means, screws and nuts are preferably used,
wherein at least one of said fastening means is configured as a
pivot point or a rotary bearing for the eccentric lever in that
said fastening means is configured as a round screw or a round nut
or the like.
[0011] The tool according to the invention is distinguished in
being configured tubular and in having a tubular shaft at one end
of which an eccentric lever which engages in the engaging element
of one mounting plate is arranged, and that one end of the tubular
shaft is configured to grasp a screw-fastenable fastening element
(preferably a screw or a nut) mounted in the device in form-fitting
manner and to use said mounting means as a rotary bearing for the
eccentric lever. In particular, the tool is configured such that
the interior diameter of the tubular shaft at least corresponds to
the exterior diameter of a screw head or a nut. Thus any desired
screw head or any desired nut can be used as a rotary bearing or
pivot point. Preferably, provided at the other end of the tubular
shaft is an adjusting handle, through actuation of which, rotation
of the eccentric lever and thus adjustment of the Y-position of the
guide rail is carried out.
[0012] The tool is also preferably configured such that a rod is
rotatably arranged in the tubular shaft, at the free end of which
locking means, in particular a spanner element is arranged and, at
the other end thereof, a locking handle is arranged. The tool
therefore fulfils two functions, specifically an adjusting function
by actuating the adjusting handle attached to the tubular shaft and
a locking function by actuating the locking handle and the rod
connected thereto and arranged in the interior of the shaft.
[0013] These and other advantages are disclosed in the subclaims.
The invention will now be described by reference to exemplary
embodiments and with the aid of the accompanying schematic
drawings, in which:
[0014] FIGS. 1a to f relate to a first exemplary embodiment and
show, in different schematic representations or views, the design
of the device according to the invention; they also illustrate the
chronological progress of the adjusting and locking procedure;
[0015] FIGS. 2a to c relate to a second exemplary embodiment and
show different schematic representations and views thereof.
[0016] FIGS. 1a and b show, in two views, the principle
construction of a device 100 for adjusting and locking a guide rail
11 in a vehicle door 10. The device 100 comprises, in particular, a
first mounting plate 110 which is provided, for example, configured
integrated, at the guide rail 11, and is referred to in the
following as the rail-side mounting plate. The device 100 also
comprises a second mounting plate 120, which is connected to the
door interior panel 12 of the vehicle door 10 and is therefore also
referred to below as the door-side mounting plate. Using this
device, the position of the guide rail 11 can be adjusted and
locked in the adjusting direction, that is, here in the
Y-direction.
[0017] As shown, in particular, by the cross-sectional view of FIG.
1d, the two mounting plates 110 and 120 overlap and are fastened to
one another by means of a screw fastening, specifically by a screw
130 and a nut 131. Firstly, the screw connection is loosened for
the purpose of adjusting the Y-position or tilt of the guide rail
11 (see FIG. 1a), so that the mounting plate 110 can be displaced
relative to the other mounting plate 120. The screw shaft 130 is
guided in the horizontal slot 121 which is provided at the second
mounting plate 120. The eccentric lever 212 of the tool 200 has a
spigot 215 which engages in a further slot 125, which is also
provided at the second mounting plate 120. This second slot 125
provides an engaging element for the eccentric lever 225 and
extends essentially in the vertical direction, whereas the other
slot 121 extends in the horizontal or Y-direction. The pivot point
(rotary bearing) of the eccentric lever 212 mounted on the exterior
tube 211 is provided at one of the mounting means, here for
example, at the nut 131. This can be achieved, for example, in that
the interior diameter of the tube 211 is selected large enough to
encompass the exterior diameter of the nut 131. If now, by
actuating the adjusting handle 210, the exterior tube 211 is
rotated, the eccentric lever 212 also undergoes a rotation and, due
to the restricted guidance thereof in the slot 125, also a
translational movement of the screw 130 and of the mounting plate
110.
[0018] The sequence of the adjustment and locking is illustrated in
greater detail by FIGS. 1c-f. Both the adjustment and the locking
are carried out by means of the tool 200 which is described in
greater detail below and is configured essentially tubular and
comprises an exterior tube or a tubular shaft 211 and a rod 221
arranged rotationally therein. Arranged at the free end of the
exterior tube 211 is the eccentric lever 212, the spigot or peg 215
of which is brought directly into engagement with the vertical slot
125 of the door-side mounting plate 120 (see FIG. 1d). The free end
of the tubular shaft 211 also encompasses the nut 131, which serves
here as a rotary bearing or pivot point for the eccentric lever
212. The adjusting handle 210 is provided at the other end of the
tubular shaft 211 in order to be able to rotate the eccentric lever
212.
[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1c, the guide rail and the mounting
plate 110 mounted thereon are initially situated in a starting
position, here, for example, at the right-hand stop of the slot 121
which serves as a guide. Firstly, the free end of the tool 200
which comprises the eccentric lever 212 is introduced through an
assembly aperture provided in the vehicle door. The end of the
tubular shaft 211 is then fitted over the nut 131 of the screw
connection in order to provide a pivot point for the eccentric
lever 212. The screw connection has initially not yet been
tightened, so that in a first step, by rotating the adjusting
handle 210 or the eccentric lever 212, a linear displacement of the
screw 130 guided in the slot is brought about, so that the mounting
plate 110 is moved and an adjustment of the Y-position of the guide
rail is brought about (see FIGS. 1c and 1d).
[0020] Once the desired position has been found, (see FIG. 1e), in
a further step, the screw connection is tightened, so that locking
of the guide rail in the desired Y-position is achieved. For
locking, a locking handle 220 which has a through connection to the
screw connection via a rod 221 arranged in the rod 211 is provided
at the tool 200. In the example shown here (see FIG. 1d), the rod
211 is configured tubular and has, at the free end thereof, a
coupling element for form-fitting connection to the end of the
screw shaft, which is configured hexagonal. Therefore, the free end
of the rod 211 has a spanner function which creates a form-fit with
the screw 130 and thus enables tightening of the screw 130 by
rotating the locking handle 220. Once the screw connection has been
tightened and thereby the locking of the guide rail brought about,
the tool 200 can be removed again. Only the absolutely necessary
design elements remain in the vehicle door, in particular the
elements of the screw connection, which may be typical screws and
nuts. No assembly of eccentric elements is required.
[0021] Another embodiment of the invention will now be described
making reference to FIGS. 2a to c. Here, the horizontal slot 111
(guidance in the Y-direction) is not arranged in the door-side
mounting plate, but in the rail-side mounting plate 110'. The screw
140 is guided in this slot 111 when the Y-position is adjusted. The
vertical slot 115 configured as the engaging means for the
eccentric lever 212 is also provided at the rail-side mounting
plate 110'. The door-side mounting plate 120', however, has no
slot, but rather has a circular hole with a nut 141 and therefore
represents the fixed point for the screw connection.
[0022] In order to adjust and lock the guide rail, firstly, with
the screw connection loosened, the tool 200 is introduced so that
the eccentric lever 212 is effectively hooked into the vertical
slot 115 (engaging element). The tube 211 of the tool encompasses,
with the free end thereof, the fastening screw 140, so that the
eccentric lever can be rotated about said pivot point or said
rotary bearing. Through the rotation of the eccentric lever 212,
adjustment of the Y-position of the guide rail is achieved. Once
the desired position has been reached, then by means of the locking
handle 220 and the rod 221 connected thereto, tightening of the
screw connection can be brought about. For this purpose, the screw
140 is configured, for example, as a hexagonal head cap screw so
that said screw can be tightened with a rod, the free end of which
is configured as a hexagonal key. Once the locking has been carried
out, the tool can be removed again without difficulty.
[0023] Many other variants and modifications are conceivable. For
example, a spigot or a projecting peg which engages in the
counter-part of a corresponding eccentric lever can be used as the
engaging element (see 115 in FIG. 2a). The connection between the
inner rod (see 221 in FIG. 1d) and the screw connection can also be
achieved by means of other designs. For example, the inner rod can
be configured as a smaller tube and can encompass the shaft of a
screw (as shown on FIG. 1d) or the inner rod can be made from solid
material and can engage in the form of a hexagonal key in a screw
head (as shown in FIG. 2a).
[0024] The invention proposed here not only has the advantage that,
following assembly, no excessive quantity of superfluous material
or components remain, but that also a tool can be used which is
very easy and quick to operate. For the connecting means, screws
and nuts can be used which have a common hexagonal form or the
like. It is also possible that the outer tube of the tool can
encompass and use the nut or the screw head without difficulty. A
screw can also be used which provides possibilities for engagement
with tools either at the shaft or the head thereof. As illustrated,
by way of example, in FIG. 1d, the screw 130 can have a slit or a
cross-head profile at the head thereof a can have a hexagonal form
at the shaft thereof. Tightening is therefore possible from either
side.
[0025] Apart from the actual device, the tool has also been
described here and is distinguished by having essentially a
concentric tubular construction of at least two tubes or rods. Said
tool can be configured very stable and user-friendly and enables
easy access by means of an assembly aperture in the frame of the
vehicle door.
[0026] A vehicle door has also been described which is equipped
with such an adjusting and locking device. Furthermore, the method
for adjusting and locking the position of the guide rail has been
described. Altogether, with the design according to the invention,
a rapid, effective adjusting and locking capability is provided,
wherein, following assembly, no superfluous components or parts
thereof have to remain in the vehicle door. The proposed design is
suitable, in particular, for the use of typical standard-conform
screw connections. For this reason also, a very economical
realisation of the invention is achievable.
REFERENCE SIGNS
[0027] 10 Vehicle door [0028] 11 Guide rail for adjustable
(frameless) window pane [0029] 12 Door interior panel [0030] 100
Device for adjusting and locking the Y-position of the guide rail
[0031] 110 First (rail-side) mounting plate [0032] 120 Second
(door-side) mounting plate [0033] 121 First (horizontal) slot as
guide for the Y-adjustment [0034] 125 Engaging element for the
eccentric lever, configured here as a vertical slot [0035] 200 Tool
for adjusting and locking [0036] 210 Adjusting handle [0037] 211
Tubular shaft [0038] 212 Eccentric lever [0039] 215 Spigot for
engaging in the vertical slot 125 [0040] 220 Locking handle [0041]
221 Rod arranged rotatably in shaft [0042] 130 Screw (first
screw-fastenable mounting means) [0043] 131 Nut (second
screw-fastenable mounting means) [0044] 100' Device in alternative
configuration, comprising: [0045] 110' Rail-side mounting plate,
with: [0046] 111 Horizontal slot (adjusting guide) [0047] 115
Engaging element (vertical slot) for eccentric lever [0048] 120'
Door-side mounting plate [0049] 140 Screw (first screw-fastenable
mounting means) [0050] 141 Nut (second screw-fastenable mounting
means)
* * * * *